Getting the old house charme with second hand Baltic Pine

The people who did this extension wanted that old world charm of secondhand Baltic Pine. With new Pine you get a much lighter look and it sometimes doesn't match as well as 2:nd hand does. I recomended them a place called Hughs Renovators Paradise where you can find everything from a doorhandle, fireplaces, doors to flooring. It's at 17 Frankling st Huntingdale in Melbourne. The flooring is usually more expensive than new becouse of its rarity.

The room has a beautiful country feel to it. The floors where coated with Bona Traffic Matt finish. Here are some before and after shots.

New and old timber meet in an extention.

At this extension of a house the owners wanted to keep the original floor in the old part of the house. They decided to break the new section of the house by laying a different timber in the new part with a more contemporary look. This is the result when Baltic pine and Messmate meets up in a room. It was coated with Bona Traffic HD Satin finish. Some before and aftet shots.

Gardenvale Primary School hall.

I got the opportunity to sand and polish the Gardenvale Primary School hall and entrance thanks to Nikki Gaal who mentioned my name to the vice principal Julie Pitts. As a matter of fact that's how I get most of my work, through word of mouth. I'm glad they went with Bona's non toxic polyuruthane for the sake of the children. They choose Bona's Traffic HD extra matt finish as it's easy to maintain and has the lowest VOC of any polyuruthane coating. Of the many benefits using Bona's range of products, I think the fast curing (24hr) Traffic HD is the greatest, as this one allows you to use the floors quicker. The Bona Traffic HD is also 40% more wear resistant than the 'normal' Traffic making it the top of the line for use in schools, restaurants or any public place or home. As with any Bona products it brings out the 'natural timber look' as it doesn't change colour as some solvent based poyuruthane does. If you're after the strongest non toxic polyuruthane on the Australian market you can't go wrong with Bona Traffic HD. For more info please check out www.bona.net.au

Turpentine parquetry.

This floor was glued straight on concrete. With a moisture barrier membrane painted on first. One of the things to remember when getting or laying a parquetry floor is the light coulored pieces are usually s lot softer than the darker coloured timber pieces. So either sort them out and don't use them or don't group them together. As well as don't use them in the high trafficed areas as entrance and kitchen or where you have furniturues that you move a lot as in a dining area etc. It's unfortually a lot easier that those light coloured pieces will be hollowed out more and leave a dip after the sanding, as they are so much softer. So if you can aford it try to not use them, or use them more at the edges of the rooms.

European oak herring bone parquetry.

My friend Leif and I installed this European oak parquetry on a concrete slab. We had to do a moisture barrier before we could glue the parquetry. The difficult thing was to work out where to start as the herring bone pattern went diagonaly instead of straigt towards the light (back balcony doors) which is the most common way of laying! Afterwards the kitchen and all skirtings, architraves, tiling, painting, electrics and appliances where installed. I was the last one to finish as it is recomended to have as few workmen afterwards as possible. The floor was finished in Bona Traffic matt finish.

When Non-toxic coating is great!

I got this job, sanding and polish Bright side kindergarten in Boronia. It had to be done over 2 weekends as the place couldn't be closed for any period of time. I had a friend help me as we had to move furnitures, remove carpets, do some repairs and then sand and polish into the very late evenings. Bona's Traffic matt was used and the kids could be back on the mondays to continue their play. That's when a non- toxic coating is great!


Here are some before and after shots.

Maintenance of a wooden floor.

As I come across a lot of timber floors, it always astounds me that the maintenace has never been explained properly. People gladly wet or steam mop their timber floors and wonder why the timber is swelling and cupping. As I say to my customers: NEVER WET MOP a timber floor, instead use a damp microfiber mop. As what Bona is offering in their maintenace range or any other brand for that matter. As I'm familliar with the Bona range of products, I realy like that they offer a maintenance coating wich the owners can apply them selfs. Here is a link to Bona's maintenace pdf: http://bona.net.au/Contractors/Products/Maintenance.aspx